The Whisper of the Woods

I shot this on location in the UK's New Forest National Park, a haven of wild heaths and ancient woodlands, sheltering an oasis of wildlife. I visit the woods quite often - once a week, if I'm able - but year by year I can see the biodiversity wane. This short film aims to highlight the issue of habitat and biodiversity loss in the UK due to industrialisation, climate issues, and pollution. It also serves as a prelude to an upcoming series filmed in the New Forest, covering British Wildlife from life in the waterways to the log piles and the treetops.

Written, filmed and narrated by Leo Richards.
Filmed on location in the New Forest National Park, UK.

To celebrate National Poetry Day (6th October) and this year's theme of 'The Environment' I have collaborated with @Ecoflix to run a #WriteForTheWild poetry competition! I hope this film inspires you to grab a pen and take part. Read how below.

About Ecoflix:

How to Get Involved:

All you have to do is write a short poem about the environment and send us a photo of the poem which we will share to our social media channels! Feel free to get creative and share your poems as part of a wildlife drawing too! Check out my poem in this video for inspiration. I chose to touch upon the issue of biodiversity loss as our country's wild havens continue to be ravaged by agriculture, industry, and a disregard for the fragility and importance of nature that seems to plague the population.

Please share your submissions to Instagram and tag @ecoflixofficial and @naturalwfacts to have them shared. The deadline for submissions will be the 16th October, with the winner announced shortly after. The winner will receive a 1 year subscription to Ecoflix for themselves or their family, plus for another friend or family too! :D

#nationalpoetryday #wildlife #nature #artlistcreativefest

[Dragosteaa]

I believe I speak for everyone: we missed you so much 💜 So grateful you’re alive & well, please never change, please continue explaining the hidden worlds of our Earth.. we need you

[NaturalWorldFacts]

It's been a while, but guess who's back!! As many of you know, I've been away travelling over the summer but I'm home now and have a ton of exciting projects lined up :D This film is to celebrate National Poetry Day. It also serves as a prelude to my upcoming Nature Boy Journal series, exploring woodland wildlife in-depth! I'm also working on some new deep sea films in my usual style, as well as a very ambitious collaboration with an underwater 4K videographer from Indonesia called Edi Frommenwiler, which I'll release more info about shortly. It's so, so good to be back. I'm sorry for taking so long. Thank you all for sticking with me!

[lewasil]

When I was little, my sister would tell me my parents found me under a rock. She was trying to make me cry perhaps. But instead, I imagined a nice mossy rock, under a misty forest, with mushrooms and leaves and critter friends. It was a comforting place in my mind. My sister is gone now. I miss her.
Thanks for the wonderful video. Xoxoxoxo

[nicholasallee]

As an English nerd and biology nerd, there are very few things that hit both areas of my brain, but THIS was perfect. I’ll watch it a hundred times.

[normalratrat]

The poetry of this is haunting yet majestic. I'm super impressed

[lauriemartin]

Well, I'm more than a little teary-eyed. Such a lovely video with beautiful background music. And your poetry describes so perfectly the experience of walking in, and being one with nature. All of us who spent hours exploring the great outdoors as kids can all feel the sorrow that comes with knowing how much less there is of it to enjoy today. I hope you had an enjoyable summer break, but I am glad you're back. I'm really looking forward to your new content!

[thetwitchywitchy]

You have such an incredible voice, your tone is so soothing and clear, if you don’t do voice work already outside of your videos, you absolutely could! Amazing as always :)

[imalittleeggroll]

I held my breath so I didn’t interfere with your poetry and music and sounds. What art! So amazing and I appreciate both the message and passion that you share 🫂

[lorriedmussett]

Leo....your a wonderful lost soul amongst us. I get lost in everything you share. It just so happen I was on my lunch break, in my car, in a parking lot....but joyfully it looks out onto a pond! A pond where there are Egrets, herons and plover passjng thru and...as I sat to listen to your new post....I thought of course it was a bird that caught my eye...but thus time it was a handful of leaves falling, drifting down, nature's way of life and death...so beautiful....along listening to you and what you have to offer to this world. Its gigantic, Leo, what you do, at your age, with such its inspiring ....your one of only 3 things on YT that have such genuine purpose and i can support that all day long. Thank you, Leo.

[Angayasse]

This is the most beautiful thing I have seen in a while even if it conjures up haunting images <3 Thank you for coming back, I missed your videos so much.

[mlbhos]

I do believe with all my heart, you are the next David Attenborough❤❤

[blacklavoux]

There’s something magical about thick forest with animals busy living their lives.
It’s quite, but crowded.

[purplehaze]

As an Arizonan, someone who lives in the middle of a desert, forests are a luxury I’ve only indulged in a few times.

[BinroWasRight]

This is absolutely stunning. Leo, the more I watch your work the more I feel you will be a future era's Sir David Attenborough. Love and respect!

[thefisherking]

You have such a wonderful and unique narration style. I love listening to your work.

[sea_triscuit]

Very well done, this hit me right in the feels haha. I live in the Pacific Northwest and every day I see more and more forest being cut down for a new senior living apartment complex. It's really sad but I definitely agree with this video

[aSinisterKiid]

This was beautiful both visually and audibly. The wilds of the forest are among one of the most precious gifts the world has to offer. You did an amazing job in capturing the beauty and peacefulness that Mother Nature has so graciously given the world.

[kurenaidie]

This young man is the next David Attenborough! Give it a little time, and he'll be on all the BBC nature documentaries for the next 50 years 😂❤️

[nogi]

It’s a pity. I remember growing up and spending summer days at my grandfather’s. Behind his house was the deep, thick forest. I was never allowed to go too far in, but I still found so much joy there - throwing rocks, clambering over treefalls, digging under stumps. The place seemed endless.

A few days ago, I went back there to clear out his house after he passed and I remember standing at the edge of what was once woods and seeing the rooftops of horribly boxy little townhomes. That endless forest was now just a few trees serving to show the property lines.

I’m lucky in some respects, though, that I live near a wonderful state park, so I can still enjoy the woods. But seeing my childhood forest disappear was heartbreaking.

[AdelineBarbour]

It makes me really happy to know that there are so many people out there who love the natural world and love to learn about it as well, thank you for making these videos, they have taught me so much, and made me appreciate nature more than I ever did before.